Number of UK 'Neets' increases for second consecutive quarter

Proportion of young people not in education, employment or training jumps to 12%, but total is down over five years

The number of young people in Britain not in education, employment or training increased for a second consecutive quarter between January and March, to 865,000.

The proportion of so-called Neets among 16- to 24-year-olds edged up 0.1 percentage points - or 2,000 people - to 12%, compared with the previous quarter, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Related: More youngsters shut out of work or training, study finds